Package and envelope fastener



June 19,1928. 1,674,101

1 A. FORMOSO v PACKAGE AND ENVELOPE FASTENER .Filed March 22, 1926 Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES ANDREW EORMOSO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PACKAGE AND ENVELOPE FASTENER.

Application filed March 22, 1926. Serial No. 96,584.

The present invention relates to improvements in envelope and packagefastener-s, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a fastener especially well adapted for securing the flaps of envelopes together in a manner whereby ready detection may be had of prior opening of the envelope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic fastener for envelopes, embodying inner and outer sections adapted to be passed. through the flap of the envelope and which sections when pressed together will interlock one with the other in a manner for preventing ready separation of the sections without liability of ripping or tearing that portion of the envelope flap through which the fastener extends.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detail'description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelope and showing the fastener sections in position for sealing of the envelope when the flap is swung downwardly for closing of the envelope.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of an. envelope and showing the flap in I a sealed position.

.Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sec tion through the envelope and one section of the fastener, and looking toward the top or fiap edge of the envelope.

Figure 4: is an enlarged fragmentary sec tion taken on line 140f Figure 5 looking in the direction of thearrows, and showing the fastener sections in a locked position.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the inner plate section. a

Figure 7 is perspective view looking from the under side of the outer plate section.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the innor plate section and looking more toward the upper side thereof. a 1

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may designate an envelope of usual construction, B the outer plate section of the fastener, and C theinner plate section of the fastener.

The envelope in the example shown, has its back consisting of the usual bottom flap l0 and side or end flaps 11 which are folded .in overlying relation and sealed in the usual manner. The usual top flap 12 extends along the top edge of the envelope and is folded into overlying relation with the back of the envelope and serves as a closing means for the envelope.

Referring to the outer plate section B, and which is adapted to form the outer or exposed section of the fastener when the firs tener sections are in assembled relation, the same embodies a discportion 13. having a plurality of equi-distantly spaced apart prongs 14 extending from the inner side thereof, These prongs 14 are of triangular shape in formation and are preferably arranged in circular formation with. their inner major surfaces facing the axis of the disc 13. The disc 13 and prongs 14 are preferably made of metal, the prongs being formed integral with or secured to the disc in any suitable manner, and if desirable, an initial or other suitable matter may be printed uponthe upper face of the disc as illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now to the inner companion plate sectionC, and which maybe readily struck from sheet metal of a suitable gauge, the same is of circular shape in plan and embodies a flat disc shaped hub portion 15 about which is formed an annular concaved portion 16 having its upturned peripheral edge lying in a plane with the upper face of the hub portion 15. Struck upwardly from the flat hub portion 15, is a number of equidistantly spaced apart prongs 17 which are 9 tance above the inner surface of the conthe free ends of the prongs l-t beneath the ribs when the fastener sections are pressed into locking relation with one another.

In the example shown, the outer plate sec.- tion B has been shown provided with three prongs 14, and the inner plate section C provided with three prongs l7 and three ribs 18 one for each of the prongs 1%. This arrangement of threes has been provided so that the prongs 17 will act as a guide for the proper positioning of the outer plate section B so that one of the prongs 14 will he guided beneath each of the ribs 18. This relation of threes has been merely shown by way of example,-and it will be apparent that more prongs and ribs may be provided in the companion sections in accordance with the size of the fastener and the specific use to which it is to be placed.

In use, the inside plate C may be secured in position as indicated in Figure 1., the prongs 17 being pressed outwardly through the flaps 1t) and 11 and then flattened against the flaps before the contents of the envelope are positioned in the envelope. The prongs 1 1 of the outer plate section may then be passed through the flap 12, with the prongs 14 so positioned that when the flap 12 is swung downwardly one of the prongs 14 will be placed between two of the adjacent prongs 17. The plate B may then be pressed downwardly and by reason of the prongs ll engaghig the concave surface of the portion 16 outwardly of the hub 15, will spread outwardly with their pointed free ends extending beneath their respective ribs 18 as indicated in Figure 4. This passing of the free ends of the prongs 14 beneath the ribs 18, will prevent withdrawal of the outer plate section without liability of ripping or tearing the llap portions of the envelope. By so securing the inner plate section in position by bending the prongs 17 downwardly about the envelope laps before sealing of the envelope by the outer section B, less pressure will be necessary for pressing of the sections into interlocking relation, as only the prongs carried by the outer section will need to be spread for the final scaling of the envelope.

It will be apparent that the prongs ll of the section B are arranged in a circle of greater diameter than the. fiat hub portion 15 in order that when the sections are brought together the free ends of the prongs 1- will engage the concaved surface of the annular portion 16.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel type of envelope tastener has been provided, embodying a pair of companion sections so shaped that when ne74u01 the sections are forced together for final sealing of the envelope. that one of the sec tions will interlock with the companion section for preventing ready separation of the sections without distortion of the envelope sealed by the fastener.

Changes in detail may be made to the spccilic form of the invention herein shown and described. without departinp from the spirit of the lllVclltlUl] or the scope of the following claims.

l claim:

1. An cnvclopc l'astcncr comprising an inncr section. formed with a flat hub portion having upwardly extending prongs at the marginal cdgc thcrcol' tor attarluucnt ol the section inwardly oi the rear wall oi an envelope and an annular coi'icavcd portion encircling the flat huh portion with its up turned peripheral edge laying in a plane with the upper 'l'acr ol' the hub portion, and an outer section embodying ln'ongs adapted to be sprcad to extend radially by movement along the concavcd portion ot' the inner scction.

2A1) envelope l'as' tcner comprising an inner section embodying a flat hub portion having prongs struck upwardly therefrom in parallel relation and spaced equidistant apart about the margin ot' the hub. and an annular concavcd portion having elongated ribs struck upwardly theretmm and each centered with respect to the axis of a diametrically opposite prong of the hub portion when the section is secured inwardly ol' an envelope, and an outer section having :1 prong for each of said ribs. said prongs, when the sections are assembled. to be spread by the concavcd portion of the inner section into locking relation one beneath each of said ribs.

3. An envelope fastener comprising an inner section formed with a llat hub portion having up 'ardly struck prongs at the marginal edge thereof and an annular concavcd portion having equi-distantly spaced apart semi-circular shaped ribs struck upwardly in the face portion thereof concentric with the axis of the hub portion. and an outer scrtion including a flat disc portion havinp coin-distantly spaced apart prongs cxtcnding from one face thereof and arranged in a circle of greater dian'ieter than that of the hub portion of the inner section where by when the sections are pressed together in use. the prongs of the outer section will engage the concavcd surface of the inner section and be guided outwardly into intrr-i locking relation one beneath each of the PM of the inner section.

AN DREW F )HM (3-511 

